Cap construction



July 2, 1968 w. J. GRUBER 3,390,405

Y CAP CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 29, 1965.

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July 2, 1968 w. J. GRUBER car CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan.29, 1965 39 FIG. 6.

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United States Patent Oflice 3,390,405 Patented July 2, 1968 3,390,405CAP CONSTRUCTION William Joseph Gruber, 88 Oriole St., New Orleans, La.70124 Filed .Ian. 29, 1965, Ser. No. 429,083 2 Claims. (Cl. 2-197) Thisinvention relates to an improved article of headwear, and in particular,an inexpensive disposable cap construction.

Workers and operators in the food service industry, such as restaurants,bakeries, food processors, etc., find it customary or necessary to wearvarious types of head coverings to maintain optimum sanitary conditionswhen handling food. The hair of the wearer is thus prevented fromfalling and mingling with the food being processed. Many fields ofindustry unrelated to the food service field must also adhere to strictsanitary regulations.

Fabrics or other materials requiring cutting and sewing operations haveheretofore been used in making caps or head coverings for sanitary wearand thus involve high production costs. These articles necessitaterepeated laundering, adding substantially-to their ultimate cost.

It is thus an object of the present invention to provide an inexpensivedisposable cap or hat construction in which paper is the basic materialemployed in the manufacture thereof. The cap provides an attractiveappearance when worn, and offers adequate sanitary protection. After aperiod of wear the cap may, upon becoming soiled, be discarded andreplaced by a new and clean cap manufactured at low cost.

Another object of this invention is to provide a cap construction formedfrom relatively inexpensive materials, such as paper, and which iscapable of being manufactured with the use of high speed automaticmachinery.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a paper cap having aheadband which may be adjusted readily to different head sizes.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentfrom the following description and claims, and from the accompanyingdrawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the paper cap construction comprisingthe subject matter of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a side view in elevation of the paper cap constructionillustrated in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along the planeindicated by the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view of the cap construction illustrated inFIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is a top plan View similar to FIGURE 4, but illustrating thecap construction after it has been adjusted to a smaller head size.

FIGURE 6 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along the planeindicated by the line 6-6 of FIG- URE 4.

FIGURE 7 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along the planeindicated by the line 77 of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 8 is a side view in elevation of a paper blank from which the capof the present invention is formed.

FIGURE 9 is a side view in elevation of the paper blank of FIGURE 8folded along horizontal fold lines to form the band of the cap, andfurther illustrating the manner in which an adhesive is applied to theblank for securement of the crown of the cap to the headband.

FIGURE 10 is a perspective view of the paper crown of the cap.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein like numerals indicatelike elements, the cap comprising the subject matter of the instantinvention is generally designated by the numeral 10. The cap includes apaper headband 12 and a substantially M-shaped crown 14 of tissue paper.The headband 12 of the cap 10 may include a suitable decorative designsuch as is indicated at 16.

Referring now specifically to FIGURES 8-10, the headband .12 of the cap10 is formed from a blank 18 of a relatively heavy grade of paper. Theblank 18 is provided with spaced horizontal fold lines 20, 22, and 24.The blank 18 also includes spaced vertical fold lines 28, 30 and 32.

The blank 18 is first folded along the horizontal fold lines 20 and 22to form a substantially U-shaped channel 26 along the length of theblank. Then the top of the blank 18 is folded downwardly abouthorizontal fold line 24. The resultant structure is illustrated inFIGURE 9.

An adhesive substance 34 is applied along the length of the blank 18 toform an adhesive strip. As shown in FIGURE 9, the adhesive strip 34extends from one free end of the blank along its length to a pointspaced from the vertical fold line 30 and the other free end of theblank 18. The length B of blank 18, illustrated in FIGURE 9, is freefrom adhesive.

After the blank 18 has been folded about the horizontal fold lines andthe adhesive 34 applied, the blank is folded about the vertical foldlines 28, 30 and 32, in that order. The portion of the blank 18 betweenthe vertical fold lines 28 and 30 forms a first, substantially fiatrectangular panel 36 of the headband 12. The remaining portions of theblank 18 are adapted to form a second, substantially fiat, rectangularpanel 38 spaced from the first rectangular panel 36.

The second rectangular panel 38 includes a first flap 40 extending fromthe vertical fold line 28 to the free end 44 of the blank 18, and asecond flap 42 extending from the vertical fold line 30 to the free end46 of the blank 18. As illustrated in FIGURES 3-7, the flap 42 istelescoped within the second flap 40 to form the second rectangularpanel 38 of the headband 12. The fold 24, the inner surface of flap 40,and the U-shaped channel portion 26 on the flap 40 prevent the flap 42from separating from the flap 40 in a direction perpendicular to thelength of the flaps, and thus maintains their telescopic engagement.

By moving the flap 42 relative to the flap 40, the length of theperimeter of the headband 12 may be adjusted to fit the head of thewearer of the cap 10. Indicia 54 is pro vided along the inner surface ofthe channel 26 of the flap 42 for indicating the cap size of theheadband 12 as the flap 42 is moved relative to the flap 40.

A tissue paper crown generally designated by the numeral 14 is providedto complete the cap 10. As illustrated in FIGURE 10, the tissue crown 14is substantially M-shaped in cross section and includes outerextremities 48 and 50.

The flat rectangular panels 36 and 38 are adapted to be spread apartlaterally relative to each other to define a central opening 56 forreceiving the head of the wearer of the cap 10. The outer extremities 48and 50 of the crown 14 are adapted to be connected to the inner surfacesof the rectangular panels 36, 38, respectively, by pressing the bottomportions of the outer extremities along the adhesive strip 34surrounding the inner periphery of the headband 12. The crown 14 thussubstantially closes one end of the opening 56.

The crown 14 is connected to the headband 12 when the headband has beenadjusted to its largest size. A portion of the outer extremity 50 of thecrown 14, designated by the letter A, coincides with a portion of lengthB on the inner surface of the flap 42 which lacks adhesive, and thusremains unconnected to the inner periphery of the headband 12.

Because of the unsecured length A of the crown 14, adjustment of theheadband size by telescopic movement of the flaps 40, 42 is possible.When the flaps 40, 42 are moved relative to each other to substantiallydecrease the 3 length of the perimeter of the headband 12, for example,as illustrated in FIGURES 5 and 7, the free portion A of the crown 14 isadapted to collapse in accordion-type fashion to form a series of pleats52. If the crown 14 were secured along its total outer extremity 50 tothe inner surface of the rectangular panel 38, either relativetelescopic movement of the flaps 4t) and 42 would be impossible, or thecrown 14 would be torn. When the headband 12 is adjusted from a smalleror intermediate size to a larger size, the pleats 52 will tend tostraighten during the telescopic movement.

Since the crown 14 is substantially M-shaped in cross section, it can bespread laterally to conform to the breadth of the wearers head.

The vertical fold line 31 allows free movement of the flap 42 into theflap 40 and permits an additional length of telescopic action toincrease the variable range of the perimeter of the headband 12.

If desired, the paper material between the horizontal fold lines 20 and22 may be coated with paraffin or comparable treating material to renderit moisture-resistant, since this portion of the headband 12 will act asthe sweatband of the cap and constitute its inner lining.

Since the cap 10 is made completely from paper material it is relativelyinexpensive and need not be subjected to repeated laundering. After aperiod of wear, the cap upon becoming soiled, can be discarded andreplaced -by a new and clean cap manufactured at low cost. Due to thesimple folding operations in constructing the cap, it is susceptible ofbeing formed on high speed automatic machinery. The cap is adjustable tofit snugly the head of the wearer, the adjustment being accomplished bysimply contracting or expanding the headband portion 12 of the cap 10.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been disclosed in theforegoing description, it will be under stood that various modificationswithin the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in theart. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on theinvention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A cap construction comprising a headband, said headband including anelongated paper blank folded along a pair of spaced vertical fold linesto define the ends of and form a first substantially rectangular panel,and a pair of flaps, each flap being connected to the ends of saidrectangular panel and having free ends, means on said blank formed 'byfolding said blank along horizontal fold lines for telescopicallyconnecting the free ends of said flaps to form a longitudinallyadjustable second rectangular panel, a third vertical fold line on saidfirst panel adjacent one of said vertical fold lines defining an end ofsaid first rectangular panel for providing unencumbered relativemovement of said flaps, said first and second rectangular panels beingspaced from each other to define a central opening for receiving thehead of the cap wearer, and a paper crown, said paper crown having outerextremities along its length adhesively connected to said first andsecond rectangular panels except between said vertical fold linedefining the end of said first rectangular panel adjacent said thirdvertical fold line and the telescopic connection of said flaps, wherebysaid crown may be bunched along one of its extremities in accordion-typefashion to permit adjustment of its length and the telescopic movementof said flaps.

2. A cap construction in accordance with claim 1 wherein said papercrown is substantially M-shaped in cross section whereby said crown maybe extended in a direction perpendicular to its outer extremities toadjust the breadth of the cap.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,836,141 12/1931 Wagenfeld 2-1972,329,539 9/1943 Kingson 2-197 2,669,725 2/1954 Haegele 2-197 2,685,0908/1954 Wagenfeld 2-197 3,027,564 4/1962 Wagenfeld 2-197 X 3,082,4303/1963 Wagenfeld 2-197 PATRICK D. LAWSON, Primary Examiner. JORDANFRANKLIN, Examiner.

G. KRIZMANICH, Assistant Examiner.

1. A CAP CONSTRUCTION COMPRISING A HEADBAND, SAID HEADBAND INCLUDING ANELONGATED PAPER BLANK FOLDED ALONG A PAIR OF SAPCED VERTICAL FOLD LINESTO DEFINE THE ENDS OF AND FORM A FIRST SUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULAR PANEL,AND A PAIR OF FLAPS, EACH FLAP BEING CONNECTED TO THE ENDS OF SAIDRECTANGULAR PANEL AND HAVING FREE ENDS, MEANS ON SAID BLANK FORMED BYFOLDING SAID BLANK ALONG HORIZONTAL FOLD LINES FOR TELESCOPICALLYCONNECTING THE FREE ENDS OF SAID FLAPS TO FORM A LONGITUDINALLYADJUSTABLE SECOND RECTANGULAR PANEL, A THIRD VERTICAL FOLD LINE ON SAIDFIRST PANEL ADJACENT ONE OF SAID VERICAL FOLD LINES DEFINING AN END OFSAID FIRST RECTANGULAR PANEL FOR PROVIDING UNEVCUMBERED RELATIV MOVEMENTOF SAID FLAPS, SAID FIRST AND SECOND RECTANGULAR PANELS BEING SPACEDFROM EACH OTHER TO DEFINE A CENTRAL OPENING FOR RECEIVING THE HEAD OFTHE CAP WEARER, AND A PAPER CROWN,SAID PAPER CROWN HAVING OUTEREXTREMITIES ALONG ITS LENGTH ADHESIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID FIRST ANDSECOND RECTANGULAR PANELS EXCEPT BETWEEN SAID VERTICAL FOLD LINEDEFINING THE END OF SAID FIRST RECTANGULAR PANEL ADJACENT SAID THIRDVERICAL FOLD LINE AND THE TELESCOPIC CONNECTION OF SAID FLAPS, WHEREBYSAID DROWN MAY BE BUNCHED ALONG ONE OF ITS EXTREMITIES IN ACCORDION-TYPEFASHION TO PERMIT ADJUSTMENT OF ITS LENGTH AND THE TELESCOPIC MOVEMENTOF SAID FLAPS.